Annual Report IPSO Annual Review 2016

2016 Annual Report IPSO Annual Review 2016 2 IPSO Annual Review 2016 Vision A trusted, thriving, free and responsible press, reinforced by independent, effective regulation. Mission To support those who feel wronged by the press. To uphold the highest professional standards in the UK press. To determine whether standards have been breached and provide redress if so. Values Independent: IPSO will carry out its work free from control or interference by the press, parliament, interest groups or individuals. Bold: IPSO will act without fear or favour. Fair: IPSO will reach judgements according to its rules based on the evidence it has gathered and its actions and sanctions will be proportionate. Accessible: IPSO will make it as easy as possible to access its services and to engage with it. Transparent: IPSO’s work will be in the public domain, ensuring its actions and processes are clear and visible, while fulfiling any duty of confidentiality. 01 IPSO Annual Review 2016 Intro The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) is the regulator of the majority of the UK’s newspaper and magazine industry. This annual report covers IPSO’s second year of operation, moving away from the challenges of setting up a new organisation to developing the functions that make IPSO a strong and effective regulator in an increasingly challenging and rapidly changing sector. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Strategic plan Independent New rules and Sir Alan Moses IPSO upholds Publication for 2016–20 review of IPSO’s regulations gives the first complaint against of second published, setting independence enhancing IPSO’s annual IPSO the Sun on set of annual out overarching and effectiveness powers and lecture ‘Reality “Queen Backs statements objectives for the announced independence Regulation’ Brexit”, the collected from first four-year come into force first time that a all member funding period complaint has publishers. New agreed with been upheld website launched the industry under the new Clause 1 rule that headlines must support the text 02 IPSO Annual Review 2016 Contents 01 Vision, mission & values 02 Introduction and year in review 03 Contents 05 Chairman’s statement 06 Chief Executive’s statement 08 Upholding press standards 10 Complaints statistics 11 Complaints handling and beyond 12 Case studies 16 Publisher statistics 18 Top 25 complained about publications 19 Pilling Review 20 External affairs 23 Arbitration 24 IPSO’s Board 26 IPSO ‘s Complaints Committee 28 IPSO’s senior staff 30 IPSO’s members 32 Financial report Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year-long Enhanced IPSO holds Independent IPSO launches Alan Moses arbitration pilot service on the first national review of IPSO’s Readers’ Advisory and Matt Tee scheme launched whistleblowing roadshow in independence Panel to advise give evidence hotline Birmingham and effectiveness on its work and to the House of announced and launches published, wider industry Lords on press guidance highlighting issues from the regulation on reporting achievements perspective of stories featuring and challenges readers and transgender citizens. Mike individuals Soutar and Claire Singers appointed to the Board 03 IPSO Annual Review 2016 ...I continue to admire the patience and concern each member of our staff shows to those who contact us... 04 IPSO Annual Review 2016 Chairman’s statement without IPSO, felt able to stand up for themselves against the press, have had comfort, support, and where a breach has been established, redress. Much of this work is unseen, because the vigorous advocacy on the public’s behalf achieves speedy settlement with the newspaper concerned. But I continue to admire the patience and concern each member of our staff shows to those who contact us, often fearful and angry, and without the means to seek help from lawyers. We lost some members of our staff to further careers, but under the strong and resolute leadership of Ben Gallop and Rt Hon Sir Alan Moses, Chairman Bianca Strohmann, as temporary Heads of Complaints while Charlotte Dewar was on leave, we thrived. I am so The second year of IPSO was, in some respects, of grateful to them and to Matt for filling the temporary gap greater significance than its first. No longer was it while Charlotte was away. possible to blame the inexperience of the ingénue, the novel idea of regulating a free press for any Of course, we must continue to learn and make shortcomings, whether real or merely perceived. But progress. As Pilling underlines, the challenge is to the remarkable story of IPSO’s second year is that it increase public awareness and trust. I am confident that did make real progress, and did demonstrate how we will continue to do so. One of the main bases for IPSO’s imposition of enforceable powers on the press this confidence is the strength and independence of our and its enforcement of their obligations to us could be Board and of our Complaints Committee. No-one who effective. cared to observe the way they go about their work could doubt their commitment to a system of regulation that It is quite apparent that the vast majority of the national does protect the public whilst respecting the importance and regional press, those who have voluntary submitted of maintaining the freedom of a vital and unruly press. to IPSO’s system of regulation, take us seriously and On our Board, we will deeply miss Kevin Hand, who recognise our authority. They express a profound dislike died so tragically and suddenly. We will also miss the of being found in breach of the Editors’ Code. No-one keen perception of Richard Reed who contributed so promised and no-one should expect that striking the powerfully to IPSO’s inception. right balance between regulation and the exercise of freedom of expression would be easy. But the Pilling I am determined that IPSO shall advance and improve. report, to which the Chief Executive refers, is ample and To this end I look forward to engaging with our independent evidence of IPSO’s achievements. members in seeking, generally, to implement the Pilling recommendations and to agree further changes not only That progress is due entirely to our powerful and lively to maintain, but to add to the effectiveness, which IPSO staff under their magisterial head, Matt Tee. Through achieved in only its second year. I thank everyone for them, almost every day, those who would not have, making that possible. 05 IPSO Annual Review 2016 Chief Executive’s statement In the 2015 annual report, much of what we reported on was the formation of IPSO. Things like finding an office, agreeing a budget and recruiting staff were all important features of the year. The external environment was also quite febrile. The right model for press regulation was still a contentious issue. If IPSO was invited to appear in front of a select committee, our opponents would be invited too. The same was true of many of the occasions we were invited to speak at conferences and meetings. On IPSO’s first birthday its opponents held a small demonstration outside the office. By the end of 2016, IPSO was fully established as the independent regulator of the overwhelming majority of the UK press, covering 95% of national newspapers by circulation; almost all local and regional newspapers; and all the major magazine groups. IPSO had developed all the functions that were envisaged when it was founded in 2014. IPSO is accountable to the public that read newspapers Matt Tee, Chief Executive and magazines and those that access similar content online from the same publishers. It is also accountable to those it regulates for how it carries out its duties. Many others, including government and parliament, are interested in IPSO’s independence and how 06 IPSO Annual Review 2016 IPSO’s standards function collected the second year’s effectively it carries out its functions. In 2016, it annual statements from publishers, detailing their commissioned an independent external review by Sir complaints record and, importantly, what changes they Joseph Pilling, a distinguished former civil servant, which had made where they were found to be in breach. concluded that IPSO’s first two years were a period of promising development. During 2016, IPSO also launched an arbitration scheme as an alternative for those that might have gone to court with a claim, for example for libel. This is not an ”IPSO’s complaints function... alternative to a complaint as it only covers issues that might have led to a court claim, but it does offer a low processed over 14,000 cost alternative to court. complaints and inquiries, up around 2,000 on the previous As we reached the end of 2016, it was noticeable that people were judging IPSO by its own record, rather year...” than in comparison to some imagined criteria. Sir Joseph Pilling’s review of IPSO is the best independent assessment of IPSO that anyone has undertaken. IPSO’s complaints function – its main point of contact with the public – processed over 14,000 complaints and It sets out some recommendations for enhancing inquiries, up around 2,000 on the previous year. Our IPSO’s independence and effectiveness, almost all complaints team expertly and sensitively supported those of which we have accepted and many of which were whose complaints required investigation in reaching a implemented immediately. As Sir Joseph said: “These resolution to their complaint. Often the conclusion will be recommendations are not an attempt to save a failing that an IPSO complaints officer will help the complainant organisation, rather they are intended to help a new to negotiate a resolution with the publisher that leaves regulator, which demonstrates early achievement, them feeling that their complaint has been recognised promise and commitment, to develop into a trusted, and rectified.

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